New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-30
THE LOCAL STATESMAN.
MEN AT POLITICAL HEADQUARTERS.
THE CURRENT OF CAMPAIGN wORK-MAJoR HAd-


the universe depended Tor ther orueriy mouoh "PoA
his constant attention Give heed to the mpefous eye
whose penetrating gances seem to peer through the
dark curtain that shuts future from ordinary mortal
ken Consider the sombre frown like some obsructirs
sentinel that bids you not to dare approach too near the
mighty mind it guards. This Ia a Statesman.
Note the canny nose. Catch to the determined
resolute mouth Hearken to the short crisp word OF
command that sends scurryng of this way ana tna
as II their blessed lives the forfeit OF tardy IosI
Watch how men quake when he looks darky at the or
glow with gratfed pleasure when be commends MARX
when emissary, more rusty than the rest, comes
busting In and slides into shadowy corner or beyond
the screen where they both whisper mysterousy WHO
s the others stand around with painful interest LOOK
when he issues from the conference his face betrayng
naught of what heard whether 1t be alarming or
pleasant Watch how the august statesman bends
with quick attention when he speaks and laughs most
merrily when he makes some grim joke This Is BOSS
shiny plug hat Perceive the stentorian plaid
trousers Observe the headlight diamond big enough for
curbstone that CLEANS ranbows ana aurora boreases
from his expansive shirt front Mark the inky cigar that
sticks from out the Of his mouth whence Issue
clouds of snowy smoke watch with what graceful case
no hits the cuspdore across the floor whenever MS
tongue requires Look at the cablelinK
watch chain, presented to him mark OF confidence
and esteem at the last annual picnic of his assoshea
shuu." This Is a Politician.
The political headquarters just before cleo
ton are novel and interesting and in this city the differ
ence between pictures presented at the Republican
rendezvous and those presented where the Democracy
assemblies thoroughly characteristic The Repubn-
cans are domced In the Fifth Avenue Hotel when ID
sancted to them many memories or victorious cam
pagns. II here that General Arthur ouit up MS
wonderful machine probably the most remarkable
political organlzltion considering the overwhelming
majority against which the Republicans must contend III
this city, that was ever constructed. The Republican
state Committee occupies II dozen rooms on the
Twenty fourth Street side of the hooL In one OF them
dozen clerks are engaged from early morning Till late at
night, sorting out ana folding political documents
designed 10 show how hOpeessy dcprayed and beyond
redemption the wicked Democrats are and how good
and excellent the G. 0. T. is AID ever will be- In an
otter room another set Of clerks folding, wrapping
and addressing these appeals. They sent all over
the State from Suffolk to Chauauqua. 10 all tue great
men of every county all the party and to all
the local Republican oiccholdcrs who are expected to
give them wide circulation among the voters.
In still another room the secretary Of The committee
and his stan Of assistants work answering CORE
spondcnt and allong speakers for campaign meetings
The work Of the secretary Is simply prodgous. Toward
the close OF tho campaign he not Drequently receives
800 letters day giving reports OF meetings that have
been hcd estimates OF the probable result on election
day. making requests for every conceivable kind OF
assistance The labor connected win the assignment OF
speakers IL tremendous. They must be scheduled
according 10 hundreds OF local timetables for points
which they eau surely reach from night to night and vet
due must he paid to the wishes OF local RepnD
can clubs a. To the ornors they prefer mistake may
cause nutc embarrassment and lose votes. for human
nature sensitive aud cXacting The Republican secre-
tary Charles A. Chickering is the Clerk OF the Assem-
bly,, handsome young man with SILKY black musache
aud brilliant black eyes lie supposed to know every
body in the New York and those he doesn't know
are very to- be terms Of long-standng Intimacy
with his right-hand man. Dwight Lawrence, who Is an
old campaign horse happy except in the thick
OF the fray.
Protected from rude entrances by stalwart guardsmcn.
beyond all these apartments, IL the little Office from
which all the wires NJ political manipulation are run,
whore the real directors Of the conflict are o be found
Few Of the noisy politicians that throng about the
corridors the hotel lounge in the barroon ever sue
coed n altering themselves through the outer precincts
OF the headquarters into this camp Of the generals
Here morning till night sits General Knapp the
chairman Of the Executive Committee listening to the
reports OF his fellow committeeman, of the campaign
orators who have been journeyng about through the
state and OF country statesmen who have come to town
help and Information
The little there on the sofa with the dark hut
raying beard Plat, who is regarded hy
Governor Hill and other virtuous Democrats rs the
wickedest earth Bending close TO the ex SEN
ators ear IL oXyooklng fellow who wants 1000 to
help along the campaign in whaugtown The gentleman
departs a .lddcr and a wiser vowing that he VIII
return the Democratic party and deliver Wha1gtown
the zoe. This gentleman IS political vuInre
Ten minutes later he will be striking exMayor Cooper
over in ho Democratic headquarters lie dsposes OF his
principles at auction every fall The tall. powerful man
who now enters Is cI sopator Miller. Chestnut Drown
hair waves back frum his forehead and heavy, SOFT
mustache graces his upper lip. He ana senator f!att
take chairs near the window ana converse earnestly
Presently another large stately parsonage Joins them
Senator Frank HscOck. tho responsible leader OF the
campaign Their conference mas not been concluded
before the fourth member OF the eminent quartet who
are at present the foremost rank OF the Republican
party in NewYork Senator Evarts enters and takes IN
animated part the discussion. Together they give
audience to host OF well known men, whose energies
arc enlisted the campaign Occasionally they CONFER
with the chairman OF tho STATE Committee. Cornelius "
Bi o. whose stately figure ana clever face are bendhS
over a desk at the further end of the room.
Presently the genial president OF the New York Central
Railroad Chauncey VI. Depew enters breeziy and en-
llycns tho conversation with hearty Joke or neat
story The tail man with him. with IL long brown mus
tache and tenor voice "a Ehu Root the ardent cham
pion of Delaney Ncou. Behind him the snow-white
mustnche OF Commissioner stephen b. French the pres
ideat OF the Police Board presents n conspicuous pct-
ure The man who looks amazingly like bulldog over
In the corner and who will soon be state senator
George Erwin the Cicero OF Ct Lawrence. Chatting
with him gayly are james W. Hustled who can scarcely
tell how many times he has been Speaker Of the Assem-
bly, and exCollector Robertson. whom the people OF
Westchoster intend send TO be of MI Erwlns COM
panions In the Senate. where he will tread familiar
paths.
The scenes OF political activity in the Hoffman House.
where the Democrats have placed thor battements are
likely to be much ycer than those across the street
The Republican vote Is in the country. and the EFFORTS
OF the managers are chiefly directed through disan'
agencies. Tho Democrats are not holding meetings
through the state all Their vote is to he reached
fran over the bars OF the NewYork City saloons. AID Is
consc ,ucnty moro available The cafe OF the Holman
House during the campaign Is nightly crowded with
the great men OF the two Democratic ORGANIZATIONS
The full darkbcaricd man at yonder table imbbing
cracker and quaiing the amber bowl IS sheriff Grant,
heap big chief OF Tammany Hail. who gores In the ds
tincon OF being the only honest Democrat in the Board